The Decameron, Volume II eBook

and for the rest I will see that your peace is made
with your kinsfolk.” So in the castle the
pair were wedded, Pietro only less blithe than Agnolella,
the lady ordering the nuptials as honourably as might
be in her mountain-home, and there they had most sweet
joyance of the first fruits of their love. So
some days they tarried there, and then accompanied
by the lady with a strong escort, they took horse and
returned to Rome, where, very wroth though she found
Pietro’s kinsfolk for what he had done, the
lady re-established solid peace between him and them;
and so at Rome Pietro and Agnolella lived together
to a good old age in great tranquillity and happiness.

(1) In reference to the forlorn condition of the city
while the seat of the papacy was at Avignon, 1308-1377.

NOVEL IV.

—­ Ricciardo Manardi is found by Messer
Lizio da Valbona with his daughter, whom he marries,
and remains at peace with her father. —­

In silence Elisa received the praise bestowed on her
story by her fair companions; and then the queen called
for a story from Filostrato, who with a laugh began
on this wise:—­Chidden have I been so often
and by so many of you for the sore burden, which I
laid upon you, of discourse harsh and meet for tears,
that, as some compensation for such annoy, I deem
myself bound to tell you somewhat that may cause you
to laugh a little: wherefore my story, which
will be of the briefest, shall be of a love, the course
whereof, save for sighs and a brief passage of fear
mingled with shame, ran smooth to a happy consummation.

Know then, noble ladies, that ’tis no long time
since there dwelt in Romagna a right worthy and courteous
knight, Messer Lizio da Valbona by name, who was already
verging upon old age, when, as it happened, there
was born to him of his wife, Madonna Giacomina, a daughter,
who, as she grew up, became the fairest and most debonair
of all the girls of those parts, and, for that she
was the only daughter left to them, was most dearly
loved and cherished by her father and mother, who guarded
her with most jealous care, thinking to arrange some
great match for her. Now there was frequently
in Messer Lizio’s house, and much in his company,
a fine, lusty young man, one Ricciardo de’ Manardi
da Brettinoro, whom Messer Lizio and his wife would
as little have thought of mistrusting as if he had
been their own son: who, now and again taking
note of the damsel, that she was very fair and graceful,
and in bearing and behaviour most commendable, and
of marriageable age, fell vehemently in love with
her, which love he was very careful to conceal.
The damsel detected it, however, and in like manner
plunged headlong into love with him, to Ricciardo’s
no small satisfaction. Again and again he was
on the point of speaking to her, but refrained for
fear; at length, however, he summoned up his courage,
and seizing his opportunity, thus addressed her:—­“Caterina,